Back Beach, New Plymouth NZ
Fitzroy Beach was named the home venue for the 2010 TSB Women’s Surf Festival, but due to what I’d say is not “ideal conditions” the event has been moved to New Plymouth’s Back Beach. With stunning views down the coast, Back Beach was the best spot in Taranaki over the weekend for the New Zealand Women’s Open competition.
With everything out on the line for these amateur competitors, surfers from all over New Zealand flocked to New Plymouth to fight for a spot as the wild card entry for the ASP world tour event. The winner of the contest had to be a New Zealander and that included a check for $3500 USD and a chance to surf with the best in the world. Since I am an American, unfortunately I had to sit this one out and watch the kiwis battle it out. Much to my chagrin, a 15 year old took the competition, beating out women twice her age by busting airs, throwing spray, and out paddling most --an avoided embarrassment for sure on my part, well at least I know that I am a bigger than her and probably could steal her trophy after she surfed circles around me.
This outstanding young woman who won the NZWO is Sarah Mason. Like I said she is only 15 years old and what is even cooler is that she won the contest on her 15th birthday, beating her older sister, Arini, for the victory and a Wild Card entry spot. Having an older sister, I know that she would NEVER let me upstage her and she would go to any lengths, violent or non-violent to beat me.
Competing against the Mason sisters in the final were Wini Paul and Laurie Rishworth. They competed in ideal three foot waves, with light offshores and clear skies. Says Festival Director Craig Williamson, “The judges and the surf-mad Taranaki crowd were really impressed with the level of the surfing throughout the day.” During the final half-hour heat, the scores came down to a really close battle between the two sisters. But Sarah surfed well all day earning the highest score during the day – and the highest scoring wave in the final. Sarah Mason now goes through as 18th and the wild card entry on the Taranaki leg of the ASP Women’s “Dream Tour” series.”
Congrats to Sarah Mason, you’ve achieved more in the sport of surfing than most and you’re can’t even drive yet. You are a stud and can’t wait till you are old enough to actually compete regularly on the Dream Tour (you’ve got to finish high school first.)
Competing alongside Taranaki’s own Paige Hareb, this will mean that for the first time in New Zealand surfing history, two Kiwis will be competing and the ASP circuit. There are no gals from the continental US (Hawaii’s considered its own country when it comes to surfing) where the population is over 300 million, compared to the 4 million in NZ. Come on you Californians, REPRESENT!!!
Conditions permitting, tomorrow (Monday, April 11) will see the start of the ASP’s Dream Tour event and Under 21 Pro Junior. Also to be concluded in the coming days are the other divisions within the New Zealand Women’s Open. These events include the final of the Under 16 division, the semi-finals and finals of the Under 14 division, as well as the Senior and Longboard divisions.
